So as many of you know, in August I took a job with Disney English in Shanghai, China for fourteen months. My leave date, February 21st, is rapidly approaching and I can't help feel a huge mixture of emotions. I have a million questions running through my head. Will I like it there? Will I make new friends? Will I be lonely? What will I see while I'm there? What will it look like? Will I like my new job? The questions are endless. However, the bottom line is...I HAVE to do this and I WANT to do this.I have been stuck in a rut for the last year. I can't seem to get where I want to be in life and not for lack of trying or motivation. When I was offered the position I was nervous and I was very unsure. My amazing family and friends encouraged me to go for it though and supported my choice to move halfway across the world. I have no commitments and nothing holding me to the place I call home. It's only for fourteen months and seriously the opportunity of a lifetime! This new adventure that I am going on will be my very own personal Eat-Pray-Love. I'm sure I will change those verbs to a more fitting and personal title once I get situated there (I would like to keep the Love attached however!).
I personally chose Shanghai because it is known as the Asian New York. I want to experience the fast paced lifestyle on a daily basis and make mini trips to the more quiet and quaint historical locations around China in my spare time. Also, I am a true Cali girl, so the ocean nearby is a plus, not to mention the river that runs through the city. What can I say, I love cities near water!! Disney is paying for my apartment and this will be my very first time living alone with no roommates. I'm not going to lie, I am slightly freaked out about that, but I know I'm going to love having my own space again! 
As the days fly by and the 21st looms in front of me, I know I am making the right decision. I love my independence and I am more than willing to experience new cultures. The traveling possibilities alone are a huge reason why this experience is going to be so rewarding for me. I have been to New Zealand, Mexico, the Caribbean, and a majority of the United States, but never as far away as China. I plan to see Beijing, the Great Wall, the Terracotta Army, The Forbidden City, Hong Kong, etc.! The cherry on top of all of that is that I will have a full-time job doing what I love...teaching and for Disney no less!
I will not be writing anymore on this blog, but don't despair, you can now find my weekly (fingers crossed) blog about my adventures in China on my new blogspot, "Disney Days & Shanghai Nights", http://shanghaitrisha.blogspot.com/ .
I will start that blog the week before I leave and then begin updating it once a week. By many reliable sources I have been told that I will not have access to Facebook while I am in China. I hope that I will access a way to do so, but if not, this will be a place that I can write, post pictures and get your comments. I know that I have gotten to this point in my life so that I can take this opportunity of a lifetime and learn and grow from it. I will miss you all so, so much, but know that I am living a dream of mine and I will be bringing back with me memories, experience, and satisfaction that I conquered something that frightens me...the unknown! I can only hope this is just the beginning of my worldly travels!!!
Until April 2014 (unless if you check out the new blog)...Zai Jian...goodbye!
3 comments:
Trisha, I don't want to burst your bubble about Shanghai, but the water is so brown that when I saw it from the air I thought, why is there marsh land here? Then I discovered it was the water! :o However, I love the Hangpu river, which is the one you are referring to and it can be viewed from the Bund. Shanghai life is a lot like L.A. life with just lots of Chinese folk around you!
I can think of three places you are in immediate reach of, which are Suzhou (the water city), Nanjing (one of the hottest places in all of China) and Hangzhou (one of the only remaining semi-traditional cities). They are wonderful places and you should spend a day (not necessarily more than that) checking these places out! They are all within one hour's distance of Shanghai so taking a bullet train isn't a bad idea!
Trishie! My dear, dear friend. Words cannot express how happy I am for you. You know from day one that I am your cheerleader. Always have been and always will be! You bring SO much joy and love to all our lives and China is way to lucky to have you for 14 months. On a personal level, you bring the much needed calm in my life. You are my "girlfriend" as I tell Fred, LOL! Who am I gonna call every 5 minutes???!!! Nonetheless, I am so, very, very happy and excited for new adventures in Shanghai. The Lara's will be visiting you as soon as you are settled and seasoned. Muchos hugs and besos to you bestie! XxOo - Genie Beanie
Trish, I've been spending my morning reading ur blogs! U are truly an amazing person. Through ur words u have inspired me to live life to the fullest. I feel so blessed that you and my brother are great friends, thus u becoming one of my friends. I am so happy for you that u decided to take this leap of faith. You are an awesome teacher and your students are going to fall in love with you...not in a creepy way. can't wait to read ur new blog and live vicariously through your adventures. Love u muchos!!! Xoxox Natalie
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